Day 27: Oceano- San Luis Obispo. 15.5 miles

Day 27: Oceano- San Luis Obispo. 15.5 miles.
Janice joined us and hung in there for the whole leg from Pismo to SLO for 12.5 miles. Thank you Janice for joining us, then treating us to dinner and a hotel room!

Yesterday we  took a shortcut across some fields. As we did, The little voice in my head said "there are no shortcuts." Our first Camino taught me this. I said it aloud to Gerald. He nodded. We walked on and arrived in Oceani around 1pm.

The first campground was full and catered to RVs. The second campground was full and no longer had hike/bike section. Due to problems with transients using drugs and alcohol and obviously behaving in ways that were a problem and made their drug use obvious, the state campgrounds in the Pismo area discontinued the hike and bike group section. We were directed a third campground that may or may not have a space and found a fourth campground using Google that was about a mile away.
We trodded around in circles, lost and trying to figure out where these other campgrounds were. A park ranger gave us a map and told us we could use a service road. As soon as we turned onto the service road, a state parks police/ranger zoomed up to us in what looked like an armored dune buggy. The officer was in full gear. He looked like he was ready for battle. I realized with the city's recent problem with transients, the officer may think we were problem vagrants. "Can I help you?" The officer said a bit gruffly.
We explained our situation. The officer changed his tone and became very helpful. He directed us to the same third campground that we were headed to. He asked a few questions about what we were doing and where we were headed to next. He let us continue walking on the service road and drove on. The stopped and pulled over almost as soon as he had left us. The officer got out of his armored dune buggy, still with pepper spray and whatever else all that stuff was he has strapped to his chest. "If you are going to walk to Atascadero, you'll have to cross Cuesta Grade. You don't want to go on the highway. That's too, dangerous. What you can do is take Stage Coach Road. There's a lot of trees and shade. It's also the real old stage coach road and much safer." We thanked him. He waved as he was already headed back into his supped-up police dune buggy and Vroom vroom he was gone.

I did not tell him that was the way Butch had already figured out for the guidebook. Ok so back to finding a place to sleep tonight.
The Coastal RV Park, that did not look like a campground, had a small pinned in corner that only a few tents could fit into for their group camp hike/bike. We told the county park employee what we were doing; walking the Californua Missions. I am not sure if she did not hear, did not understand, did not care or simply did not believe us. She smiled that 'that's nice honey' kind of smile and said "Thirteen dollars please."  I thanked her for still supporting a hike/bike section. "It's for one night only."  Gerald said "That's fine. That is all we need."  Oh well. At least we have a place to be.

Day 26: Santa Maria - Oceano. 17 miles.

Day 26: Santa Maria - Oceano. 17 miles.
We had cool weather all morning. We did not expect to encounter much service, but were well cared for. Breakfast at the Cowgirl Cafe and lunch at Palo Mesa Pizza. It was a lovely walk on back roads. We took a detour at Arroyo Grande off the steep hill with a narrow shoulder to a walk through the fields and by the RR tracks. We ended our day searching for a place to camp on a holiday weekend. We got the last camp spot in town. Tent is up. We have showered and done our laundry. It's all madness out there, so we will eat whatever snacks we have and go to bed. Then get up to do it all over again tomorrow.

Today we walked for long periods in silence. It was a contemplative day. Then we shared our thoughts with one another. Camino dreams and plans are powerful. They carry weight. Plans made on Camino come from the heart and soul, and are forged by the mind and body into action. Three years ago, at about this time of year, Gerald and I were on top of a mountain in Spain. In a tiny village with more buildings in ruin than were functional. A total population of 11. We met two other people connected to the vision of bringing pilgrimage to America through walking the California Missions. We decided in that moment that we would make a pilgrimage of the California Missions. And we are today, three years later doing it.

I don't know what shape or form our Camino dreams will take. I don't know when they will be realized. I do know that Camino dreams and plans are down in good soil. And from this good soil good things will grow.

Day 24: Lompoc- Harris Grade. 6 miles.

Yesterday we arrived and visited Mission La Purisma. This mission feels like how I imagine a mission would really be. Missions were centers of industry. This mission is completely run by the state. Not the Catholic Church. Mission La Purisma offered us more charity and respect for what we are doing than any Diocese connected church has so,far. 
We  are most appreciative of the met charitable people we met.  Thank you Ann Boggess for taking the time to help us work out routes. Thank you Rosewitha for buying us replacement Credenciales. Then,si cr God knew it was our 15 year wedding anniversary the gifts continued. My mother-in-law, Janice Jones for joined us and paid for a hotel room for us. Then we reconnected with old friends, Tony Kozumplik who prepared us a BBQ dinner and offered us lodging for the following night. Visited Jen Wrink, another old friend who poured  me a generous glass of Pinot noir. We chatted and caught up with one another. An all around blessed Wedding Anniversary! 

The next day we commenced on our pilgrimage. Janice was with us for the day. She had planned to walk 6 miles with us. We planned a route the night before with the help of new friends. As soon as we started our route was foiled by road construction. We had to walk 2.25 miles around the road construction. Apparently you can go around "it".  We headed back up Harris Grade. We reached the six mile mark and called an Uber. After a few cancels, someone finally agreed to come get us. Gerald and Iboth began feeling ill. We choose to Uber back as well. Besides everyone had told us not to walk Harris Grade as it was, too dangerous.  Between road construction, warnings, not being able to walk too, far with a guest walker, and now feeling ill; I took it all as sign that it was not meant for us to walk this section. 

We returned to Lompoc. Another Barbecue was planned as a going away party for a new mutual friend of our host. I observed that our celebration with friends coincided with the Feast day of Juniperra Serra. Without planning or trying, we indeed had a feast on the Feast of the Patron Saint of this pilgrimage.  

Pilgrimage is about transformation. My pilgrimage of the missions is transforming into a pilgrimage of friends- new, old and rekindled. I knew I was called to walk. I knew God had a message for me. I knew Pilgrimage would make the space and time in my life to hear the messages. I have received many messages. I have heeded them. I am still listening. Walking. Learning. 

On Day 23 we had breakfast at Ellen's Pancake house. I received two messages there. The first was from our very chipper waitress. I complimented her on her cheeriness. She replied "Life is too, short. Be happy. Make others happy. If you can't do that, then I feel sorry for you. Just smile and help others smile." Great advice. 
The second message started here but was received on the walk. I picked up the local paper. I read an article aloud to Gerald about how Tourists teach us patience.  Today when Gerald's mother joined us for the walk, it reminded me of how annoyed I was by the tourist walkers who picked up the trail in Burgos. We had been walking for weeks. We had worked through s series of physical ailments and emotional breaks. Now here these people were, haunting around taking pictures of every flower, sporting pinwheels on their daypacks, and using mochilla services and car escorts. They tested my patience and I had to force myself to not judge them for their whimsy. Camino is serious, right?!

Well, here was my mother in law being a tourist on our Camino. She was giggly. Talking loudly on her phone playing games on her phone. Taking picture of every flower. I had to keep reminding her not walk out in the street. I recognized the lesson immediately: Tourists teach us patience. 

She was so excited to be with us. So happy. We were in the determined mind set of silent walking. I struck up conversation occasionally. I knew she was in a totally different place than us. And that is okay. But it is hard to have patience with people in s different place than us. 

After the six mile walk,she wanted to go sightseeing. I really wanted to accompany her. But my body said no. We returned to our host's home and slept all afternoon. In the evening the feast started. I wanted to visit and go places. But my body said no. I was content to sit and let festivities unfold around me.  It was a blessed feast day.

A new friend,  Tom offered to give us a ride around the grade in the morning. We accepted and we are going to pick up the trail in Orcutt.

Day 23: Buellton - La Purisma Mission. 15.75

Today we walked from Buellton to La Purisma De Concepcion Mission. It is also our 15 year wedding anniversary. Today we were blessed with gifts. Ann Boggess at the Mission gave us the gift of her expertise and time. She served as local ambassador to provide insider information on alternative routes out of Lompoc.
Rosewitha in the gift shop, gifted us new credentiales and the gift of her time. Tony Kozumplik and Jen Weink gave the gifts of their time, company, food, and homes. Janice Jones gifted us with her company, the gift of transportation of her car, and a hotel room. We have been abundantly blessed today.
Blessed Be. Amen.

Day 22: Circle Bar B Guest Ranch Refugio Road- Solvang- Buellton. 16.1 miles

Refugio Road was a hard steep climb. The views were worth every bit of the aches and pains.
Santa Ynez was scorching hot. I ran out of water near the end of Refugio road. Luckily, we were right in front of a winery. We found rest, water, and wine at Kaylra Winery.

Keeping it short today. Very tired. We made it to another mission.  Mission Santa Ines.

Day 21: Goleta - Circle Bar B Guest Ranch. 14.5

Day 21: Goleta-Circle Bar B Guest Ranch. 14.5 miles

We can't go over it. We can't go under it. We can't go around it. We'll have to go through it."

I was not looking forward to 7+ mile stretch on Highway 101. I checked the maps knowing I would not find an alternate path. I knew the only way was through. I would need a full tank of will power. 

 In the book Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg, the author talks about will power. From the research shared, I learned that a possible theory regarding will power is that it's like a muscle that we develop. Will power also is finite. We use it up like a resource and then it needs time to rebuild. 

The guidebook had this 7 mile stretch of highway at the end of the day. I knew I would be too, tired to do it. The asphalt would be baking hot and the sun high in the sky. Not to mention being emotionally spent to deal with all the cars and potential hazards of highway walking. 

I decided this stretch was best completed first thing in the morning. The will power is full. The asphalt and temperatures are cool. The sun is hidden behind the inversion layer. The body and mind are fresh for the challenge.  I guess you could say, I walked smarter not harder. 

This strategy worked. We both met the challenge of the long highway walking with a determined resolve.  We did not just pilgrim. It felt like we soldiered through it. We kept up a swift and alert pace. We did not stop for breaks. We just got through this section as safely and quickly as we could. It took us just under three hours to walk the 7.5 miles of highway 101. 

I guess the lesson here is to know thyself. Know what you can do and know how your body works for optimum results. 

If I had tried to just follow the guidebook I would have been miserable. I would have increased my risk of injury. I would not be being true to myself, my needs, my abilities. It's a very difficult thing to know thyself. Just another benefit of pilgrimage: time to know thyself. 

Day 20: Santa Barbara-Mission-Goleta. 16 miles

Day 20: Santa Barbara IH- Mission- Goleta. 16 miles. 

When we started this trek 20 days ago homeless people asked us for money.  Now they ask us things like "Where you packing to?"  "Where ya in from?" We were use to general people seeing the packs and not understanding our pilgrimage. But now, homeless people were seeing us as one of them. I guess we are not so shiny anymore. 

In Santa Barbara I noticed little gifts being left for people less fortunate. I did not take pictures of any of them. I have a habit of observing little nuances like these to learn about a community. No doubt my anthropological training. 

In the Montecito area there was tartan printed fleece blanket neatly folded with a handwritten 3 x 5 card laying on top with a now shriveled flower weighing down the note. I stopped to read the card. "Please call Arn for work" and a number was provided. I put the nite back and replaced the flower paperweight. 

In the ritzy Old Coast Village I saw no such gestures. On the other side of it though, there was a paperback book Borkmann's Point with two cigarettes placed atop the book, which sat atop a coin-op newsstand. 

On the Northend of Santa Barbara I saw at least a dozen individual wrapped sandwiches set out in a raised flower bed under a tree. I thought about taking one, which made me think two things 1) It is literally time to get this girl a sandwich, if I am considering strange roadside sandwiches. 2) Yep. I am not that shiny anymore. 

As we got to the North end of Santa Barbara, on Hollister avenue, we were suddenly walking in a small gaggle of homeless people emerging from their secret night places. An older gentleman of the outdoor lifestyle asked "Hey, you guys just passing through, or, huh?" We told him, 'yeah, just passing through.' 

Gerald listened to him talk about he has been healthier in these last few years since he has lived outdoors. He said he used to get sick every year when he lived indoors. Now, he does not get sick anymore and feels much better. After a time the conversation waned and we resumed our hikers pace. 

One last interaction tested our humbleness. We were approaching some kind of city building with a wide green tree shaded lawn. Persons of the outdoor lifestyle gathered, resting in the shade. It was nearing lunchtime. A man walked out of the building with a handful of voter registration cards. He waved them at us and said "Hello." We returned the greeting and kept walking. 

The man continued walking in a trajectory that would intercept us. 

We slowed and accepted he wanted to speak with us. "You just passing through?" "Yeah. We are hiking the California Missions." "Huh, uh. Well we have program here for people without homes. In a little while we are gonna serve a nice lunch. You are welcome to join us." " oh no. Thank you though." "Well it's free and we are here everyday. Like I said for people without homes." I struggled. I wanted to say 'We have a home. We are not homeless.' But that seemed the wrong response. I stammered we both kind of did. We thanked him and moved on. 

We talked about how difficult it is to be humble and not let ego get in the way. I immediately wished I had thanked the guy for his amazing outreach. I missed that opportunity to thank this man for his work in the moment because my ego was interrupting saying 'I have a house.'

People like this man, are few and far between. The work he is doing is needed, valuable, and not easy to do. 

Lesson: the ego needs endless taming to be the humble person I want to be that takes the time to value others. 

Day 19: Carpinteria - Santa Barbara. 12 miles

Day 19: Carpinteria -Santa Barbara. 12 miles

Last night we learned about a whole we lodging opportunity:Hike & Bike group camp. We stayed in the same section the night before, but it's name eluded me. This section is exclusively for walk-up hikers and cyclists. It's reassuring to know that if you are hiking or cycling and get to a state campground, you will have a spot to camp. 

By 8pm the hike and bike section was well settled. Everyone was tucked into their tents. We managing to nod off to sleep, despite the sounds of many camp sites just starting dinner, when two new cyclists entered the Hike & Bike group camp area. They began setting up camp right next to our tent. They clanked tent poles and bike parts. Spoke loudly and set-up bright lights. I jokingly judged them "They don't know how to pilgrim."

I laughed and used my buff as a sleep mask/ear plugs. Pretty soon, with the help of Benadryl, I was sound asleep. I really did not mind the cyclists that much. But I had judged them, joking or not. 

In the morning, we awoke to growing diffused light through the tent. It was 5:22 am. Without delay, I stretched and began the task of breaking camp. As quietly as I possibly could. I am pretty quiet. But, still there is bound to be the rustling sounds of stuffing things in backpacks and the zip of zippers. 

One of late comer-cyclists slept in a Bivy sack with a mesh covering for his face. Just about a foot and a half from his head, a curious baby ground squirrel broke through the ground. Next thing we know, he is thrashing in his sleeping bag saying "Hey! Stop it! Knock it off!" We stopped and watched him thrash around like a strange larval being. Then he stopped and was motionless again. 

Okay then. 

By 5:45 we are almost packed up. Another cyclist is already wheeling silently out of camp. I think " Dang, he's already packed up? He's good." I judged myself for not, what? First? Quieter? 

At 6am we are all packed up and leaving the campground. I see the silent cyclist. He has moved away the sleeping campers to pack up all his things. Also, he is charging his phone. I notice he is using a European to US power adapter. 

"Brilliant" I think and remember we learned to pack up away from sleeping pilgrims on Camino. Then an incoming thought says "There's always someone that can walk farther and pilgrim better." Yep. It's true. No need to judge myself or others. I thought I had learned this lesson on Camino the first time. 

-----------

As we walked into Santa Barbara, the cutest little mice kept crossing my trail. More than once they paused and looked at me as if they were actually saying hello or taking time to see me. 

The last time, I was changing from boots to tevas and a little mouse bounded cross the sidewalk and stopped right in front of me. It seemed to watch me put on my shoe, then bounded away in little hops. 

I decided that the mouse was trying to tell me something. Mice as a spirit animal, carry the message to see what is right before your eyes and to take action accordingly. Little mice are messengers reminding us not to neglect the trivial but necessary things in life. They often appear with their message when someone has become to focused on too, few or too, many activities, and are neglecting the opportunities right before them. 

Mice are determined little creatures. They know that to acquire big things in life you must stay focused on the little things and stay in connected in the moment. 

Thank you little mice for revealing yourselves to me in ways that I could hear your message. I thoroughly enjoyed all the small things today. I did not push myself to get to Santa Barbara Mission today. Instead we accepted the path and all the little things in life: Doing laundry (that needed to be done), talking with people & staying someplace different (an international hostel), shopping for groceries, watching a movie with others that I have been quoting for this whole Camino (Nacho Libre).  It was a great afternoon and evening. 

Everyday I am being prepared for what is before me. Whatever that is. May I be ready, rested,and restored; courageous, strong, and determined. 

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Mobile blogger will not allow me to post photos(w/o G+) so until I figure that out, photos are on Instagram &@Caminocalifornia

Day 18: Ventura-Carpinteria. 15 miles

Last night we camped at Emma Wood Camp Grounds. We were exhausted and lacked access to power. Posts were brief The IPhones soon lost power and so did we. We got on the trail a little later than we have been lately, at 6:30am. It was still cool and foggy. Just the way we like it.
From looking at google Maps and Butch's guide we were expecting a long haul of no services for the whole 16 miles.

We got a little Camino miracle with Faria County Beach Camp Ground. Bathrooms, a food stand with quality food and coffee, and power outlets.  We hung out here for a good long while, recharging both our bodies and the phones. Keeping an eye on our phones as they charged we noticed a woman, also eyeing our phones.

The woman left, then returned with three small children. They hovered by the charging phones, which were near the food line. Gerald decided to intervene and get our phones. The woman commented emphatically that she did not even see those phones. We paid her little mind.
We did notice that after we got our phones, the woman did not order any food and left, heading towards the bathrooms.

 Bathrooms. Good idea before hitting the trail. In the bathroom there were two women, in LovePink and CALI-Love clothing. The one in Love-Pink, is evangelizing to the other woman. I see that Cali-Love is charging her phone. I decide to warn her about the phone thief. Turns out she was just in the bathroom trying to steal Cali-Love's phone. Cali-Love segues intoLove-Pink trying to get her to accept the Lord as her personal savior.
"I am not gonna say the words she wants me to say." I nod empathetically. "I've been tested. She does not know my life, what I've been through. And going to church doesn't make you a good person. I am good person. I know that. I am gonna tell you something, I told God I am open to his will, and let me tell you what. He is kicking my ass!" She said smacking her hand through the air as if to smack metaphorical ass. "I hear ya." I told her. "Yeah, just yesterday, it was one friggin thing after another. I was like really God? Really? You gotta test me like this? I have been tested. I have. And I have gotten back up every time. But here's the thing, it's different with Him in your heart. Before I was tested and I had spite in my heart. Now I know, I gotta be different. I gotta feel Him in my heart, ya know?" I nodded, "I do. I really do." She shook her head and said, "I don't even know why I just told you all that. I don't like to talk to people about these kind of things. I don't talk.  You saw me get rid of that other girl." I nodded again saying "I understand. I really do. Thank you for sharing His message with me. You take care and watch your cellphone."

Day 17: Oxnard-Ventura/ Mission San Buenaventura -Emma Wood State Beach. 12.5 miles

Today we walked in the high fog and mists of the inversion layer. It was a gift to be out of the heat. We slept in until 5 and hada leisurely morning. We commenced on our pilgrimage for the day to Mission San Buenaventura just before 7am. 

The mists hide the daylight. Hide the time and passing of the hours.  We spoke briefly. We talked about the man we met the night before. He asked "where you packing in from?" I told him we are walking church to church. He was really asking, who are you and what are doing here. Next he gave us a warning to move on disguised in causal conversation. "There's a lot guys around here who end up in prison." "What for? Drugs?" "Yeah. Mostly. But there's violence, too." His tone was neutral but I have dealt with gangsters before. I knew this was his way of telling us, it was not safe here and we should move on. 

In reviewing this conversation I thought about my run  ins with gang members in my youth. They were never good. 

My thoughts turned inward. My mind unearthing the past. My memory alighted on a particular violent run in of gang member initiation. A night I was lucky to escape unscathed. It was in talking it out that it was revealed in a therapeutic kind of way by my husband when he said "You didn't." I am keeping it short here but the realization of this new information was painful. 

I walked like a zombie for many miles. I didn't care about the cars, or the distance we had to go, or even where we were going. I felt the deep old ache I did not know was there. My mind was tilling the soil for new growth. And it hurt. 

Gerald told me I needed counseling. He talked to me about the benefits of counseling. I deflected. Avoided. Said how could it  help? What good would counseling do for me? I just want to get to the mission to pray. 

At Mission San Buenaventura I did pray. I read the Missal. I prayed some more. A woman putting flyers in the back of pews worked around me. She was loud and interrupting. I kneeled and resolved to ignore her. She then drops dozens of her pamphlets, scattering them underfoot and under pews. "Oh my God!" She exclaims and rushes to pick them up. She got all but one that I saw as I kneeled to make the sign of the cross to leave. I reached for it to give it to her. When I turned it over it was a pamphlet titled "The benefits of counseling." 

God you are too, much sometimes. 

That would be enough of s Camino lesson for the day. But God is far from done with teaching me. We lounge and rest in the Mission courtyards. Finally, we ready ourselves to go. Then a man with a heavy foreign accent that reminds me of our friend Elvis from Romania engages us in conversation. We talk to him and his wife for a while. It's a light friendly interaction. We take photos together. It turns out Mike is from Romania. He tells us "We collect memories.Not things." 

We shake hands and go our separate ways. 

As we are about to exit the mission I realize that we don't have our Credenciales with all our stamps from hiking the Missions. We retrace our steps. We look all over. We ask for help from others. We check trash cans. Check lost and found. Nothing. No luck. This mission does not even sell Credenciales for us to replace them. I begin to accept the loss. We leave the mission and I hear in my mind,  in our new Romanian friend's voice "Collect memories. Not things." 

"Really Camino?Really?"  I say aloud. My husband understands immediately and says "We came to get wet." Yep. We did. 

Day 16: Moorpark - Oxnard. 19 miles.

Day 16: Moorpark-Oxnard. 19 miles. 

We said good bye to another wonderful host!

Today as we walked, We had a fun exchange with God. You see, God talks to us all everyday through others, through experiences, our own inner voice. For me, God's voice is the he voice that has a witty comeback or cautionary advice,that I don't always heed. 

So today went like this:

Tami, our host says "Do you need anything? Breakfast? Do you want to take something?"

"No. No thanks." I reply. "We'll get something along the way."

It's 5am.  The sky is dark, but already beginning to lighten. Tami drives us to the intersection of Santa Rosa Valley Road and Glenside lane. Where she picked us up yesterday at the end of our day's walk.  We say our goodbyes with heartfelt appreciation and turn our minds to task of walking. 

Santa Rosa Valley Road is a highway like road. Cars and big trucks are whooshing past us. The sunlight brightens the sky but it's warm rays are diffused from behind the San Gabriel mountains. We walk at a brisk pace in the cool morning air. Whoosh! More trucks thundering and rattling past us. 

Then the road is flanked by some kind of citrus orchard. I leave the road and roar of traffic to investigate a path through the orchards. I can see a path through. 

Aaahh. Peaceful walking among,what I can now see are lemon trees. 

The trees look like they have been recently picked. There is a little fruit left on the trees and a bit more on the ground. I pick up a lemon from the ground. I turn it over inspecting the fruit for rot and bugs. The fruit looks fine. I wonder if lemons that have fallen off trees on their own are sweeter than ones that are picked earlier. Only one way to find out. 

The lemon is juicy, tart, and sweet. I eat two. 

 

We continue to walk. We pass a sign that says "Welcome to Camarillo." "Good" I think, I need a bathroom and I am getting hungry.  

We walk on. 

After about another mile of gated Camarillo communities, I pull out my phone and open the Yelp app and search for nearby businesses. There are a few, but none are open. It's only 7:30am. 

So we walk on. The feet complain. The hips threaten to spasm. My husband asks "How are you pilgriming today?"  "I am alright. I feel it though." I think,  'soon we will get someplace to eat and rest. Then I will feel better.'

We walk on. 

The bladder is not as patient as the stomach. Finding a bathroom becomes priority number one. I find myself side-glancing bushes, even though I know I won't go there. Finally, we reach a Taco Bell. Relief! 

We are hungry but do not want fast food. We hardly eat fast food. It will likely make us sick. 

We walk on. 

We have now walked seven miles. Usually we stop within the first 3-7 miles. We walk on looking on our phones and down streets for restaurants or cafes. There are none. There won't be any until at least the ten mike mark, unless we get lucky. 

Now we are on Lewis road. Highway 34. Cars whoosh past us again. But we have a sidewalk along a wall with houses on the other side. Up ahead I see orange trees. 

Oranges it is then. But they are all just out of reach. We could get them, if we really wanted to, but that would require more effort than we were willing to put in at that moment. 

We walk on. The bellies complain. We see two, yes, two avocados on the ground. "What?! Avocados?!" I exclaim and motion toward them. "There's a tree. See?" Says my husband. We try to get an avocado. These, too, are all just out of easy reach. 

I hear God say "Now you're just being picky."

I laugh out loud and tell my husband. He agrees saying" We would have ate those in Spain going up to Roncesvalles, and been grateful." 

I nod in agreement, remembering the 11 hour trek up the Val Carlos route, hungry, injured and in bad weather. "Yat. Guess we are not THAT hungry."

We both laugh. My husband says, "God gave us oranges and avocados and let's not forget the Taco Bell." 

"It gets worse" I say, "I left a banana on the counter this morning." 

"Oh Geez." 

We pilgrim on to Old Town Camarillo to a place called Dorothy's Chuckwagon Diner, where we eat ALL THE THINGS- and then go "Ugh, why did we do that."    

Day 15. Simi Valley to Moorpark. 15 miles

Day 15. Simi Valley to Moorpark. 15 miles

Day 14: Stoney Point Park- Simi Valley. 5.75 miles

Day 14: Stoney Point Park- Simi Valley. 5.75 miles.

Day 13. Mission Hills -Stoney Point Park. 8.76 miles

Day 13. Mission Hills -Stoney Point Park. 8.76 miles

Butch Briery's guide has this section at a 20.5 miles stretch into Simi Valley. Due to 100+ degree weather we split this section up. Maggie Small picked us up again and rescued us from the escalating temperatures. Tomorrow we traverse Santa Susana Pass.

Day 12: Burbank to Mission San Fernando Rey de España. 12.5 miles

Day 12: Burbank to Mission San Fernando Rey de España. 12.5 miles.

It was a long hot walk. Temperatures reached 102. Maggie Small was a Camino Trail Angel and picked us up 2 miles from the mission. Those were Spanish miles if I ever walked a Spanish mile. We passed all these El Camino Metro signs -fitting name for So. Cal. Camino- turns out it's a church. After resting, we feasted and visited with Maggie. Now it's time for bed.

Forget bright and early. We need dark, cool, and earlier! Mission bound.

I finally understand the sideways hat style. Over half way done with today's walk.

We got out of the heat and rested comfortably. Maggie Small was our Camino Trail Angel today. We were 2 Spanish miles from the mission. I am learning to "just follow the algorithm" so when she showed up we accepted. It was a 104. Thank you Maggie!

Day 11: San Gabriel to Burbank. 14 miles

Day 11: San Gabriel to Burbank. 14 miles.

We said Hasta Luego to Dawn and Steve. Started walking from San Gabriel onward. We encountered the wild parrots of Alhambra and So. Pasadena. Thinking the parrot was an escaped pet I alerted a woman walking. She replies "Oh Yes. We have hundreds and hundreds." We were soon to see she was right. They are a loud bunch of birds.

We walked through the beautiful city of Pasadena. Encountered the wild parrots and different neighborhoods. Then we Ubered to So. Pasadena to stay with gracious hosts and reconnect with Jennifer Lupo-Northrup and her lovely family. Today's lesson from an Uber driver: "it all works out pretty well if you just follow the algorithm." Good advice.

Comments from Gerald:
What a difference the right shoes and a good pair of compression socks make! In other news, today I learned that South Pasadena suffers from an infestation of green parrots. Green parrots!! What new madness will tomorrow bring?!

Day 10:Day 10: Pico Rivera - Mission San Gabriel Arcangel. 15 miles

Day 10: Pico Rivera - Mission San Gabriel Arcangel

On our way to San Gabriel we met a guy named Raul. He obviously had a mobility impairment but he was challenging himself to walk several miles. His message was to keep smiling and stay positive through the hardship. A homeless woman told us almost the exact same thing yesterday. It's almost as if someone is trying to tell us something.

Day 9: Fullerton to Pico Rivera. 13 miles

Day 9: Fullerton to Pico Rivera. 13 miles.

We got in 7 miles before breakfast. We are getting back to our strong Camino ways. Feasted on in IN and out then Dawn picked us up and I had a nice car nap. Back with our host family.

Day 8: Rest day due to Injury. 0 miles.

Day 8: Rest day due to Injury. 0 miles.

Day 7: Dana Point to Corona Del Mar. 15 miles.

Day 7: Dana Point to Corona Del Mar. 15 miles.
Today was a rough day for me. Walking the PCH w/o a shoulder or bike lane for the morning wore me down. Again, Gerald took care of me. He steered me into a grocery store. Here I found some refuge from all the traffic and sounds that were making my head pound, while he made all the shopping decisions. Next, I decided we needed some oceanside respite. We snacked and recovered from the hectic morning w/a quiet ocean view.
Then, It was back at it. One foot in front of the other for a few more hours. I have a lot of respect for the people who have made this walk. It is not easy. We cut the day short- those before us did not-Joyce, Butch, Sandy, and others.
Again Dawn was a trail angel and picked us up, way out in Corona Del Mar. Than you Dawn for all the love!

Day 6: San Clemente to Mission San Juan Capistrano. 10 miles

Day 6: San Clemente to Mission San Juan Capistrano. As Camino goes, we walked over and through many types of roads and areas. Mission SJC was an impressive historic site. Our friend and fellow pilgrim Dawn Aprea Hanson picked us up and is serving as a most wonderful host. More than I would ever ask for. Today she will drive is back to Doheny to continue our walk. Thank you Dawn!

Day 5: Oceanside to San Clemente. 15 miles

Day 5: Oceanside to San Clemente. 15 miles

Day 4. Oceanside and San Luis Rey de Francia. 6 miles

Day 4. Oceanside and San Luis Rey de Francia. 6 miles

Today we did limited walking due to Gerald's severe blisters. We used a range of public transportation (busses, trains, uber) and walking to get to our destinations today.

Gerald put a call into REI to inquire about his boots. The REI customer service person was amazing in sleuthing out the problem and finding a solution. It turned out that by researching our order history, that the current boots were slightly the wrong size. The last boots were a wide and the current boots are not. She had us go to the nearest REI for the boots to be exchanged straight across. Thank you REI!

Gerald now has the right size boots! But, his feet are wrecked. It will likely be tough for awhile. We will hang in there. 

Day 3: Cardiff by the Sea to Oceanside. 12 miles

Day 3: Cardiff by the Sea to Oceanside. 12 miles

We left early and were fortunate to have overcast and cool weather. It was very pretty walking by the ocean and through seaside towns. We got to the Oceanside RV Park and pitched our tent, showered, and cared for Gerald's blisters.

What should have been an easy walk, was extremely painful for my husband. He was developing massive blisters on the ball of his foot between his big toe and the next toe. This seems strange, since he walked 500 miles through Spain without a single major blister.


In Spain we walked to dinner, but California cities are a bit more spread out than Spanish Villages, so we Ubered to dinner.

We ate at Breakwater Brewing Company. Following a friends recommendation who use to live in the area. Thanks for the recommendation Tina Zmak. Pizza and beer was a nice reward at the end of a long day of walking. 🍻





Oh yeah- there was a 5.2 earthquake down here last night. I woke up to the shaking and thought "I hope stuff does not start falling and we have to evacuate. And if there's a tsunami we're screwed." Nothing fell off shelves and promptly went back to sleep. ‪#‎CaliforniaLife‬

Leaving Cardiff by the Sea

Got him to smile for a picture!

Food! Fueling up at cafe along the way.

Enroute to Carlsbad

We made it! So good to be here.

Too, hot to walk. Time to rest by the pool in Oceanside.

Beer at the end of a long hot walk is the best beer.

Day 2: San Diego-Cardiff by the Sea. 12. 5 miles.

Day 2: San Diego-Cardiff by the Sea. 12. 5 miles.

Good Pilgrim deed of the day: we saved a golden lab that was running frantic in busy traffic and who was nearly hit by cars multiple times. We got the dog to come to us and called the owner. The owner was already looking for him and arrived promptly. Hardly a word was exchanged between us, but Dewey the old and sweet dog was returned safe and we continued on our way.

We found out quite quickly that the San Diego Hills are quite brutal on the feet. The Torrey Pines path was a beautiful respite from the heavy traffic. I was expecting cooler weather as we got nearer the coast. Unlike our foggy Monterey Bay, Del Mar was very hot. We went to Board & Brew to rest and eat. I had imagined with a name like Board & Brew the they would have a wide selection of craft beers. They did not. I was tired, too, hot, and approaching heat exhaustion.  We called an Uber to take us the last 5 miles we had to go. It took me a few hours to recover. 

I learned that Southern California is much warmer than our central coast. I will take measures from now on to protect myself from the sun and heat. In the end we stayed in an absolutely lovely Air B & B, in Cardiff by the Sea. 

  Leaving San Diego. Sorry no pictures of Dewey. It took both hands to keep him safe.

Used Yelp to find this place in North Torrey Pines.

 Torrey Pines Trail

Torrey Pines Trail

Torry Pines Trail- OceanView.

We made it to the sea!

Happy Pilgrims. Notice no pictures in bright sun. The sun shut me down.

Beautiful view. Oh, do the feet hurt.

Day 1. San Diego Zoo-Ariane in San Diego. 14 miles

Day 1. San Diego Zoo- Air B & B on Ariane in San Diego. 14 miles.

We took an early morning Uber to the zoo and got there just sat the zoo was opening. I had never been to San Diego Zoo. The San Diego Zoo was phenomenal! After touring the zoo we walked right out of the zoo and pilgrimmed our way through multimillion dollar home communities, Historic Downtown San Diego, and up up and up steep hills through nice neighborhoods. 

Finally, in the early evening we arrived at Air B & B. This was my first experience with Air B & B. Our host was late, but it all turned out ok. 

One of my favorite animals, Galapagos Tortoise. This is pretty much us for the next month. Slow and steady with our homes on our backs. 

Day 0: Arrival - San Diego de Alcala Mission. 3 miles.

Day 0: Lodging at Motel 6- Mission San Diego de Alcala. 3 miles. We left Monterey this morning and flew to San Diego to commence our California Mission Pilgrimage. We walked to San Diego de Alcala Mission. Martha López's California Mission Credentials were for sale in the bookstore. We already had our credentials and had them stamped in the Mission gift shop. Tomorrow we will really begin our pilgrimage.

Our goal is to do at least 500 miles, like we did in Spain, walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in 2013. Pilgrimage is a journey not a destination. We shall see what this Camino holds for us.